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The associations of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions with longer-term activity levels of working adults with type 2 diabetes : Cohort study
Brakenridge, Christian John Salim, Agus Healy, Genevieve Nissa Grigg, Ruth Carver, Alison Rickards, Kym Owen, Neville Dunstan, David Wayne
Brakenridge, Christian John
Salim, Agus
Healy, Genevieve Nissa
Grigg, Ruth
Carver, Alison
Rickards, Kym
Owen, Neville
Dunstan, David Wayne
Abstract
Background:
Lockdown restrictions reduce COVID-19 community transmission; however, they may pose challenges for noncommunicable disease management. A 112-day hard lockdown in Victoria, Australia (commencing March 23, 2020) coincided with an intervention trial of reducing and breaking up sitting time in desk workers with type 2 diabetes who were using a provided consumer-grade activity tracker (Fitbit).
Objective:
This study aims to compare continuously recorded activity levels preceding and during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions among working adults with type 2 diabetes participating in a sitting less and moving more intervention.
Methods:
A total of 11 participants (n=8 male; mean age 52.8, SD 5 years) in Melbourne, Australia had Fitbit activity tracked before (mean 122.7, SD 47.9 days) and during (mean 99.7, SD 62.5 days) citywide COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Regression models compared device (Fitbit Inspire HR)–derived activity (steps; metabolic equivalent tasks [METs]; mean time in sedentary, lightly, fairly, and very active minutes; and usual bout durations) during restrictions to prerestrictions. Changes in activity were statistically significant when estimates (Δ%) did not intercept zero.
Results:
Overall, there was a decrease in mean steps (–1584 steps/day; Δ% –9%, 95% CI –11% to –7%); METs (–83 METs/day; Δ% –5%, 95% CI –6% to –5%); and lightly active (Δ% –4%, 95% CI –8% to –1%), fairly active (Δ% –8%, 95% CI –21% to –15%), and very active (Δ% –8%, 95% CI –11% to –5%) intensity minutes per day, and increases in mean sedentary minutes per day (51 mins/day; Δ% 3%, 95% CI 1%-6%). Only very active (+5.1 mins) and sedentary (+4.3 mins) bout durations changed significantly.
Conclusions:
In a convenience sample of adults with type 2 diabetes, COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were associated with decreases in overall activity levels and increases in very active and sedentary bout durations. A Fitbit monitor provided meaningful continuous long-term data in this context.
Trial Registration:
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001159246; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12618001159246
Keywords
COVID-19, Fitbit, activity, sedentary behavior, type 2 diabetes, digital health, pandemic, physical activity, wearable, health, technology
Date
2022
Type
Journal article
Journal
JMIR Diabetes
Book
Volume
7
Issue
2
Page Range
1-11
Article Number
Article e36181
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
DOI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open